Emergency meeting held to combat cat population crisis

Animal charity experts are inviting local vets to a summit meeting in a bid to curb the Milton Keynes cat population crisis and promote earlier neutering.

The RSPCA MK and North Bucks Branch has joined forces with Cats Protection to stage the free seminar next Wednesday evening.

They are hoping dozens of vets, vet nurses and veterinary surgery reception staff will attend.

“We would like to demonstrate how vets and animal welfare organisations can work together to tackle this growing crisis,” said a spokesman for the RSPCA branch, which has struggled with record numbers of pregnant unwanted strays in the city over the past year.

The seminar will cover the causes of the UK’s cat over-population and show how vets can work with their clients to tackle misconceptions that contribute to the overall problem,

It will also demonstrate how the change in timing of the neutering of female cats will help reduce the over-population.

“The spokesman said: “Light refreshments will be provided,and the evening will a good chance to network with local fellow vet.”

The seminar is on July 8 at the meeting room in Bletchley’s Asda store.

RSPCA Chief Inspector James Lucas will outline the animal welfare implications of cat population crisis, and branch operations manager Paul Williams will speak on overcoming cat owners’ barriers about neutering.